Game apparatus for education and amusement



April 24, 1934. ,J KONIGSBERG 1,956,099

GAME APPARATUS FOR EDUCATION AND AMUSEMENT J2 INVEN TOR.

Joseph ffanysery A TTORNEY April 24, 1934. v J KONlGSBERG 1,956,099

GAME APPARATUS FOR EDUCATION AND AMUSEMENT Filed March 16 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 24, 1934 i srsrss GAME APPARATUS FOR EDUCATION AND AMUSEMENT Joseph Konigsberg, New York, N. Y., assignor to This invention relates to apparatus for mechanically mixing a plurality of playing elements promiscuously and thereafter separating a certain number of the objects into groups.

Such devices may be used for educational purposes, as for instance a series of discs alike in proportions, but bearing individual alphabetical characters, may be commingled and thereafter apportioned or dealt in definite numbers to players in forming words, thus inculcating a knowledge of correct spelling.

The apparatus is particularly adapted for operation in accordance with the principles of poker, such as draw poker, in which five cards are dealt to each of the several players who have the choice of retaining these cards, or discarding all or certain thereof and drawing others in lieu thereof. In the present invention however, the shufiling of the playing elements, and the return thereof into the shufiling chamber of the apparatus is effected mechanically Without contact with the hands, and thereby reducin the possibility of cheating, fraud, or inadvertent manipulation often occurring when cards are used.

it is an object of the invention to mechanically e a multiplicity of tokens or playing elements rably in the form of circular discs, each representing individual card, the shuffling or mixing being accomplished expeditiously in a thorough manner, wholly without contact of the hands.

A further feature is in the provision of automatically dealing a predetermined number of tokens to each player, the tokens being concealed from View except from the player to whom they are dealt.

Another purpose is to produce means whereby any player may reject such tokens as may be undesirable and have others substituted, once for each game, and eventually, at the end of the play, to return all the tokens for reshuilling, these several operations being mechanically accomplished without handling the playing elements.

Further, it is aim to furnish an automatic apparatus embodying all the foregoing objects, in an attractive and convenient form, adapted to provide a pleasing, highly interesting game in which the distribution of the playing elements to the players depends entirely upon chance without possibility of cheating.

These advantageous objects are accomplished by the novel design, construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, constituting an shuiii preie essential component of this disclosure, and in which:-

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of th preferred form of the invention, parts being broken away to show the construction, and certain of the elements in different positions.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l, drawn to an enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is a further enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line i i of Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary composite top plan view or modified forms of the device.

igure 6 is a bottom plan view of the same.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 5, drawn to an enlarged scale.

Figure '8 is a plan view of one of the token receiving elements of the preferred form.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the adjustable control plunger slide as used in the element seen in Fig. 8.

Figure 1c is a perspective view of one of the game pieces or tokens used in playing poker.

Figure 11 is a similar view of a token bearing an alphabetical character.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the apparatus will be seen to consist of a plate 15, which may be round or polygonal in outline, provided with feet 16 which may rest upon any convenient support, as a table.

Centrally in the plate is a circular recess constituting a chamber 1'? of uniform depth having a smooth, level bottom and provided with an opaque cover plate 18, the parts 15 and 18 forming a hori"ontally disposed chambered support 1'? containing the playing elements.

A sleeve 19 is fixed centrally in the plate 15, in which is rotatably mounted a spindle 20 having a collar 21 resting in a recess at the upper end of the sleeve, 2. squared portion 22 below the sleeve, and a spring friction washer 23 held by a clamp nut 24 on the lower extending end of the spindle.

Engaged on the squared portion 22 is a ratchet wheel 25 and arranged on the bottom of the plate is a spring detent 26 to prevent reverse rotation of the spindle, but it is obvious that other devices of a similar purpose may be substituted.

Fixed on the upper end of the spindle 20 is the hub of a hand lever 27 for manual operation, and secured to the body of the spindle are opposed, resilient arms 28, prolate cycloids in shape to provide curving impulse imparting components efiective in causing movement of the playing elements 30 toward the margin of the chamber, the

arms 28 extending to the margin of the chamber to sweep the entire space therein for effecting the shuiiiing of the elements 30 and causing movement thereof towards said margin for distribution to pockets as hereinafter described, the arms being preferably reinforced at the inner ends thereof, as indicated at 29, and being resiliently yieldable to allow in any position of the shuttling means the ejection of the elements from the pockets without being blocked by said arms.

These tokens, fifty-two in number are alike in diameter and thickness, but each is characterized by bearing on its face a distinguishing symbol representative of the card which it typifies, both as to the four suits, hearts, diamonds, spades and clubs, and their value as kings, queens, jacks, and the spot numbers one to ten.

About the margin of and opening into the chamber 17 are a series of groups of five radial recesses or pockets, 3132--333435 level with the'bottom of the chamber 17, and of such width as to freely receive the tokens 30 and of a length adapted to receive two thereof, the inner portions of the recesses being preferably capable of being exposed to view through the cover 18, and the outer portions thereof being concealed from view.

Further outward in the margin of the plate 15 are slots 37 in alinement with each of the recesses, these slots having a depressed central longitudinal'groove 37'.

Over each recess and slot is secured a channel shaped casing l0 which extends over the transparent margin of the cover 18 and contains in its inner end portion an opening 41 thru which a token in the recess therebelow can be easily seen by the player, if onebe so disposed. Normally these openings are covered by shutters 42 carried on the inner ends of the casings 40 by spring actuated hinges &3 operating to snap the shutter down as soon as released by a player after inspecting the token and completely concealing it from other players.

Movable in the casings are slides 44 having down-turned inner ends adapted to move in the recesses and when in their innermost position, as at e in Fig. 1, prevent entrance of the tokens, or as at d, permit a single token to ent r, and when in an outermost position allow two tokens to enter, as at b in Fig. 1.

These plunger slides are manually actuated by knobs 45 operating in limiting slots 46 in the casings and controlled by spring detents 47 fixed to them, these detents being engaged in casing perforations 48 when the plung rs are in their innermost positions, blocking the entrance of tokens, and in corresponding perforations 49 when the plungers are withdrawn to admit a single token, these several positions being obtained by the touch of an operator as well as by sight.

In playing the game all of the several plungers are pressed into the chamber by moving the knobs 45 to their inner limit, thereafter the tokens are mixed or shui'lied by manual operation of the lever 27 and the players, upon retracting the plungers to bring the detents into the perforation 48, receive their quota of tokens by further rotation of the spindle carried arms 28.

The shutters i2 may then be raised for the purpose of observing what tokens have been dealt, and any dissatisfied player may further retract one or more of the plungers, the shuffling means 28 again twirled to cause other tokens to enter the recesses corresponding to the retracted plungers, again to be observed and such action taken as may be deemed desirable.

It is to be noted that the shutters are arranged to effectually conceal the tokens except from the individual players at all times but permit inspection by each player, in a manner closely simulative of playing cards, and that the apparatus provides not only an effective shuilling and dealing, but also permits of drawing a token to take the place of one discarded.

In the modifications shown in Fig. 5, the body contains a chamber 57 having a cover plate 58 and the twirling device is in all respects similar in structure and operation.

In the intermediate segmental portion Y of Fig. 5, a group of five recesses, generally designated 59, extend radially outward from the chamber 57, each recess to receive a single token 30, as swept therein by the dealing device previously described.

Entrance to these recesses, and also ejection of the tokens therefrom, is controlled by plungers 60 slidable in slit tubular sleeves 61 set in the marginal portions of the body 55 and held by escutcheons 62 secured in the periphery of the body.

The plungers are provided with knobs 63 and are further equipped with pins 64 movable in slots 65 in the sleeves which limit their outward movement.

Above the recesses are cover plates 66 extending over the transparent marginal portions of the cover 58, and provided with inturned lateral edges 67 adapted to guide shutters 68 as they are manually actuated by their raised lugs 69 to cover or uncover apertures 70 in the plates to conceal or disclose a token in the recess therebelow.

In the bottom of each recess 59 is a circular chamber 71 suited to freely receive a token, and mounted in the chamber is an elevator disc or platform 72, that, in its normally raised position,

constitutes the seat on which the token rests.

The disc 72 (see Fig. 7) is raised by a spring 73 encircling a bolt 74 passing through a plate 75 fixed on the under side of the body 55, the bolt also passing through a slot 76 in a cam slide 77 hav- I through the openings 70, if it be desired to discard one or more of the tokens, the corresponding cam slide 77 is drawn outwardly, causing the seat 72 and tokens thereon to descend to a lower level, and another token dealt, completing the hand.

By pressing the knobs 63, the several plungers 6D discharge the contents of the recesses into the chamber 57, whereupon such plungers are again withdrawn; where more than one token has been delivered to a single recess, the cam slide 77 pressed inwardly, raising the token from the chamber 71 into the recess, and the plungers 60 pushed in, clearing the recess.

The modification shown in group X in Fig. 5 varies from the foregoing on y in the upper portion, in which shorter cover plates 84, in place wholly dispensed with and for them are substituted shutters having lateral lugs 91 coiled around the parallel arms 92 of a loop 93 to slide therealong at will, into position to cover or disclose the recesses 59.

The outer ends of the loop arms 92 are preferably bent outward at right angles to form pintles engaged in brackets 94 fixed on the margins of the body 55, the arrangement being such that the shutter and its carrying loop may be turned upward on the pintles in place of sliding on the arms if preferred.

When the device is used in the formation of words, the tokens bear characters, as shown in Fig. 11, and the number of pockets may be varied to include words of more or less than five letters.

The manner of playing previously described is applicable to the word forming game, including the mingling and dealing of the tokens, the rejection of undesirable characters, and the second draw.

Although the improvements have been described with considerable detail and with respect to certain particular forms of the invention, it is not desired to be limited to such details since many changes and modifications may well be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest aspect.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

i. In a game apparatus, a chambered support containing a multiplicity of freely movable play ing elements and having a plurality of pockets opening into the chamber along the margin thereof, and rotatable means in said chamber for shuffling said elements and causing the same to enter said pockets, said rotatable means includ ing a resiliently yieldable impulse imparting member eifective on the elements in the direction of said pockets.

2. In a game apparatus, a chambered support containing a multiplicity of freely movable playing elements and having a plurality of pockets opening into the chamber along the margin thereof, and a member rotatably mounted centrally within said chamber and extending outwardly into proximity to the margin of said chamber, the outwardly extending part of said member including a resiliently yieldable curving portion for imparting an impulse to said elements in the direction of said pockets.

3. In a game apparatus, a chambered support containing a multiplicity of freely movable playing elements and having a plurality of pockets opening into said chamber along the margin thereof, ejecting means in said pockets for re turning said elements uherefrom into said chamber, said ejecting means in retracted position allowing entry of elements into said pockets, and means in said chamber for shufiling said elements and causing the same to enter said pockets, said shufiling means extending outwardly into proximity to the margin of said chamber, and being yieldable to allow passage of said elements from the pockets in all positions of said shuffling means.

4. In a game apparatus, an enclosure having a chamber therein containing a multiplicity of freely movable playing elements and having a plurality of pockets opening into said chamber along the margin thereof and disposed to allow playing elements to enter said pockets from said chamber and to return thereto from said pockets, a rotatable member associated with said chamber and extending outwardly into proximity to the margin thereof for shufiiing said elements and causing the same to enter said pockets, and means associated with said pockets for controlling the entry of said elements thereto from said chamber and the discharge of said elements therefrom into said chamber.

5. In a game apparatus, an enclosure having a chamber therein containing a multiplicity of freely movable playing elements and having a plurality of pockets opening into said chamber along the margin thereof and disposed to allow playing elements to enter said pockets from said chamber and to return thereto from said pockets, rotatable means associated with said chamber andextending outwardly into proximity to the margin thereof for shuiiling said elements and causingthe same to enter said pockets, and means disposed in each of said pockets for preventing entry of elements thereto during the shufiiing operation, said being movable outwardly to allow the elements to enter the pockets, and being movable inwardly to effect the ejection of said elements into said chamber.

6. In a game apparatus, an enclosure having a chamber therein containing a multiplicity of freely movable playing elements and having a plurality of pockets opening into said chamber along the margin thereof, each pocket being adapted to receive a plurality of elements, a ro tatab'le member associated with said chamber and extending outwardly into proximity to the margin thereof for shuiiling said elements and causing the entry thereof into said pockets, and

movable means associated with each pocket for controlling the space available therein to allow one or more elements to enter the pocket.

'7. In a game apparatus, an enclosure having a chamber therein containing a multiplicity of freely movable playing elements, and having a plurality of pockets opening into the chamber along the margin thereof in position to allow passage of playing elements into and from said pockets from and into said chamber, each of said pockets having a length for receiving a plurality of said elements, means rotatably associated with said chamber and extending outwardly into proximity to the margin thereof for shufiling elements and causing the same to enter said pockets, and members movably disposed in said pockets for controlling the entry and discharge of said elements into and from said pockets, said members being each selectively operabie to allow one or more elements to enter the pocket, and in the ejecting positions thereof serving to prevent 2 entry of said elements to said pockets.

8. In a game apparatus, an enclosure having a chamber thereof containing a multiplicity of freely movable, symbol bearing playing elements and having a plurality of pockets opening into platform at the base of each pocket adapted to be retracted to move an element out of the way to allow another element to enter the pocket.

9. In a game apparatus, a chambered support containing a multiplicity of freely movable,

symbol bearing playing elements, and having a 1;:

plurality of pockets opening into the chamber along the margin thereof and disposed to allow passage of playing elements into and from said pockets from and into said chamber, rotatable means in the chamber extending outwardly into proximity to the margin thereof to shuffle said elements and cause the same to enter said pockets, and manually operable plungers associated with said pockets for controlling the entry of elements thereto and effecting the ejection of the elements from the pockets into said chamber.

10. In a game apparatus, a chambered support containing a multiplicity of freely movable, symbol bearing playing elements, and having a plurality of pockets opening into the chamber at the margin thereof and disposed to allow passage of playing elements into and from said pockets from and into said chamber, each pocket being adapted to receive a plurality of said elements, rotatable means in said chamber for shuffling said ele ments causing the same to enter said pockets, and a plunger slidably associated with each pocket for closing the entrance thereto in one position, and for admitting one or more of said elements thereto in other positions of said plunger, said plungers serving to eject the elements from said pock ts into the chamber in operative relation to said rotatable means upon movement thereof to entrance closing positions.

11. In a game apparatus, a horizontally disposed chambered support containing a multiplicity of freely movable, symbol bearing playing elements, including provision for concealing the elemerits from view, and having a plurality of groups of five pockets disposed substantially on a level with and opening into the chamber along the margin thereof, said pockets being each adapted to receive two elements, and including provision for exposing the inner portions thereof to view and concealing the outer portions thereof, rotatable means in said chamber extending into proximity to the margin of said chamber, and includ ing resiliently yieldable curving portions for shuffling the elements and causing the same to enter said pockets, and movable means associated with each of said pockets for preventing, in certain positions thereof, entry of said elements into said pockets, said last named means being each selectively movable to either of two other positions, for allowing one or more elements to enter the pockets, and serving as means for effecting the ejection of the elements from the pockets.

12. In a game apparatus, an enclosure having a chamber therein containing a multiplicity of freely movable playing elements, a plurality of pockets opening individually into said chamber along the margin thereof and disposed to allow passage of playing elements into and from said pockets from and into said chamber, and means operable to cause passage of playing elements into said pockets and the return thereof into said chamber, said means including a rotatable shuffiing member associated with said chamber and extending outwardly into proximity to the margin thereof in operative relation to playing elements returned from said pockets into said chamber.

13. In a game apparatus, an enclosure having a chamber therein containin a multiplicity of freely movable playing elements, a plurality of pockets opening into said chamber along the margin thereof and disposed to allow passage of playing elements into and from said pockets from and into said chamber, and means operable to control the entry and return of playing elements into and from said pockets relative to said chamber, including a rotatable shuffling member associated with said chamber and extending outwardly into proximity to the margin thereof, and including members movably associated with said pockets, said members in certain positions thereof preventing entry of playing elements into the pockets and in other positions thereof allowing entry of playing elements into the pockets.

14. In a game apparatus, a horizontally disposed enclosure having a chamber therein containing a multiplicity of freely movable playing elements, and a plurality of pockets opening individually into said chamber along the margin thereof in position to allow playing elements to pass into and from said pockets from and into said chamber, and means associated with said chamber and said pockets operable to control the entry and return of playing elements into and from said pockets through said openings relative to said chamber, the means associated with said chamber being disposed to shuiiie any playing elements returned into said chamber by the means associated with said pockets, and the means associated with said pockets including means for each pocket serving in certain positions as stops to prevent entry of playing elements into the pockets and being selectively movable to other positions to allow entry of playing elements into the pockets.

15. In a game apparatus, a horizontally disposed enclosure having a concealed chamber therein containing a multiplicity of freely movable, symbol bearing playing elements, and a plurality of groups of pockets opening individually into the chamber along the margin thereof and substantially on a level therewith to allow passage of playing elements into and from said pockets from and into said chamber, each of said pockets having a length to receive more than one playing elem nt, and including provision for exposing the inner portions thereof to View and concealing the outer portions thereof, means rotatably associated with said chamber for shuffling the elements and causing the same to enter said pockets, and means associated with said pockets for returning the playing elements into said chamber into operative relation to said rotatable means to be shuffled, said last named means including means for each pocket serving in certain positions as stops to prevent entry of playing elements into th pockets and being selectively movable to other positions to receive one or more playing elements into each pocket,

JOSEPH KONIGSEERG. 

